The Mule!

Well, our Kawasaki Mule made its maiden voyage the other day after we FINALLY received a substantial snowfall! We have been patiently waiting to take this puppy out and about. I was in charge of driving it to nearest plowed road.

I saw meandering moose tracks in the middle of the road before me as I passed flowing streams and snow covered trees. Paradise! But, I'm not going to lie! It was a bit miserable with the snow coming in the open back window and sides!

Of course I knew this was going to happen, but it seems that we are forever learning by doing, and some type of enclosure is now in our future... probably the distant future, but the future, none-the-less.

It took me 45 minutes to reach the plowed road which is 25 minutes more than with the truck. By the time I parked, I was quite covered with snow, and my suede mittens, with lamb's wool and hand warmers inside, were ice encrusted. They were continuously slipping on the wheel. Not good!

Our primary reason for purchasing the Mule is so that we can now leave home during the shoulder season in the spring. Towards the end of April, there is a period of time when there is too much snow for the truck to travel on and not enough snow for the snow machine. The Mule on tracks will handle either the gravel road or snow.

Last year, we were stranded for 2 1/2 weeks as we waited for the road to melt enough to travel in the truck. I had been dreading that scenario, but it turned out we were fine. You just never know, though, when something such as injury, illness or family emergency will draw us out of the bush. I feel much better knowing that we can now get out under any circumstances... I think.